Wisconsin

Grade: F

Wisconson does not have anti-SLAPP law.

Note: Wisconsin has no anti-SLAPP law. However, on September 23, 2009, the Wisconsin House passed the “Whistleblower Protection Act,” a reporter’s shield bill under which judges could only order reporters to testify, produce information or reveal a source’s identity when the information is “highly relevant” to the case or critical to a party’s argument, and that the information is otherwise unavailable and there is an overriding public interest in disclosing it. A member of the FASP coalition, the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, worked with the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association and the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council to secure this important piece of legislation to protect speech and press rights. This act was enacted as Wisconsin's State Employee Whistleblower Protection Law.

A Louisiana preacher a gay rights organization and its executive director for defamation after the organization issued an online press release that said he had advocated the murder of gays in a speech he made.